Page 55

Eli still wasn’t sure if he believed himself deserving of this kind of happiness again in his life. But for some reason, the universe had gifted him with this woman’s presence, with this moment he never would have found without her, and Eli couldn’t ignore it any longer.

He was falling in love with her. Maybe he already had.

For as long as it was his, he would not waste this gift.

“Can I take you somewhere?” he asked, his lips smiling against hers.

“Anywhere,” she told him. “I would go anywhere, Eli Murphy, as long as I was with you.”

Chapter 16

Beth could see nothing but the trail, Eli and Cirrus in front of her, and trees. Lush green trees in every direction. If she’d been alone, it might have been terrifying. But she wasn’t alone.

She was with a man she was never supposed to meet.

She was on the back of a horse she was never meant to ride.

And she was feeling things she’d never intended to feel.

It was too much and not enough all at the same time. She didn’t know how to process it other than to simply ride through it and hope she came out on the other side.

“We’re almost there!” Eli called over his shoulder. “You still with me?”

“Still with you!” she called back, hoping he mistook the tremor in her voice for a natural reaction to her speaking while riding.

But she wouldn’t always be. He wouldn’t always be in front of her or beside her. But he was now. And Beth wasn’t about to let him out of her sight, especially since she’d be totally lost in the woods if she did.

But then there it was, a clearing. A wide-open space in the middle of the dense wood, save for one giant, gorgeous tree offering shade from the sun.

She followed Eli to the far edge of the clearing. He hopped off Cirrus and pulled two halters from a small pack attached to his saddle.

“We can tie them off to these two trees,” he told her, nodding between two identical trees spaced several feet apart, each with a narrow trunk conveniently cleared of branches.

Beth climbed down more gingerly than she had back in the arena, her still-healing ankle sore from her earlier bravado. She gave Midnight’s healing leg a soft stroke before leading her to one of the trees.

“You doing okay, girl?” she asked. “That was your first ride off the property. Mine too.”

Midnight nudged Beth’s shoulder with her nose and let loose a soft snort.

Beth laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Here,” Eli began, approaching Midnight with the same type of halter he’d just used for Cirrus. “Put this on over her bridle, and I’ll grab the second lead. I packed longer ones so they’ll have room to graze if they want.”

Together they got Midnight situated at her tree, and the mare took to grazing the second they were done. Then he spun her to face what she guessed was the real reason they were here.

“That tree is unbelievable,” Beth told him.

“Big-leaf maple,” Eli responded. “You should see it when the leaves change color.”

She nodded, then added, “Pretty sweet setup you got here. Like it was made for exactly what we’re doing. You bring all your lady friends here?” She’d meant to tease him, but she heard the jealousy in her tone and cringed. “You know what? That sounded kinda ick. Let me rephrase.”

“It’s okay.” Eli chuckled, then strode back toward Cirrus, producing a few final surprises from what she was beginning to think was a carpet bag stolen from Mary Poppins. He tucked a rolled-up plaid blanket under his arm and tossed her a cold can of flavored seltzer. “Hope it’s one you like. I just grabbed whatever was in the mini fridge in the tack room. It likely belongs to Boone or Casey, so don’t tell them it was me who pilfered their stash.”

Sparkling apple.

It could have been dirt-flavored for all she cared. Her stomach still performed several backflips and somersaults when the can landed in her palm.

Eli had not only gotten on a horse for the first time in three years, but he’d pretty much planned the most romantic date she’d ever been on…and they were in the woods.